Nigerian Red Cross advocates proper training for employees

The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has advised employers to provide adequate first aid training to employees on handling emergencies that could occur at work places and the environment.Mr. Bashir Dan-Illela, National First Aid Trainer, NRCS, gave the advice in commemoration of “World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2017’’ in Abuja.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work’’ is commemorated annually, on April 28, to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.

Dan-Illela said the knowledge of first aid management could help reduce the number of health challenges and causalities recorded in work places.“No matter how safe an environment is injuries and accidents must occur, that is why preparation is very important and everyone must be prepared for such emergencies. Preparation happens when people or employees are adequately trained on basic techniques of first aid thereby educating them on types of intervention to administer when emergencies occur”, he said.

“It is not about taking medication or giving treatment , rather applying simple techniques that will promote recovery, ensure lives are saved, and injures sustained is not aggravated or become life threatening. First aid indeed helps to save lives, we may have the intention to help, but without the knowledge of first aid, we may cause more harm to the causality,’’ he concluded.

Dan-Illela also said that the first hour in any emergency intervention is called “The Golden Hour”, stating that time management is crucial and if any delay occur, the effectiveness of the response may not be achieved.

He further advised organizations to create a stimulation exercise after training to ensure employees have the competence in responding to emerging situations.“This is done by creating a false alarm to see how they will respond and to know the impact of the training they have received as such will bring the reality out of them. Organizations should also put in place first aid kits because such materials would assist trained employees respond to emergencies more effectively and efficiently without improvising,’’ he added.

The expert also advised that health records must be kept for all employees under health surveillance because they allow links to be made in emergencies.